Sustainable Food

Agròpolis brought together nearly twenty Barcelona allotment users at the Centre Cívic Vil·la Florida on 24 March to reflect on the role of urban allotments in water management.

Part of the Agròpolis intercooperative initiative, the meeting emphasised how these spaces serve as resilience labs for experimenting and sharing solutions for drought episodes.

Innovative watering solutions for difficult times

During the session, participants outlined practices developed during the latest drought: application of organic mulch to reduce evaporation; creation of shade with mesh and vegetation; construction of wicking beds and terraces to retain humidity; harnessing of rainwater and greywater to be reused for watering. These examples highlight the capacity for adaptation and creativity among the allotment community.

Recognition in Parliament and future challenges

The mobilisation of the sector led the Parliament of Catalonia to approve a resolution in February 2024, urging the government to recognise allotments as climate shelters and grant them special status during periods of water restrictions. Participants in the session also underlined some improvements to take into account:

• Call for a clear regulatory framework, where protocols are defined and flexibility is given for the accumulation and reuse of non-conventional waters.
• Value the ecosystem services of allotments and not regard them again as having a recreational use, perhaps promoting an “Urban greenery statute” that recognises all the benefits these spaces have for people.
• For allotments to lead to water communities, projects to regain water from nearby facilities and buildings and allow for more sustainable management of the city.
• Improve water use at allotments through the figure of a “watering manager”, responsible for training and access to modern techniques.
• Promote these as an environmental education resource to foster a new water culture, with a range of activities open to citizens.
• Real information on water consumption, installing water meters or simply accessing real data to optimise the use of water.

Spaces for environmental education and social transformation

Besides water management, the meeting highlighted the potential educational value of urban allotments, which during the drought organised workshops and water commissions open to the public. This turns allotments into points for awareness and learning on the water cycle and sustainable practices.

The session rounded off with a clear collective message: “Growing ideas. Cultivating awareness”. Urban allotments are much more than cultivation spaces. They are a living tool for transformation, an opportunity to rethink how we look after the city’s common resources.

Finally, the conclusions from the meeting have been set out in a guide so that specialists and the allotment community can use it in future initiatives.